Linklaters has launched an Amsterdam antitrust practice with the hire of Paul Kreijger from magic circle rival Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, reports The Am Law Daily.

Kreijger, who specialises in European antitrust and regulatory matters and also has niche energy sector expertise, joins the firm as counsel. In addition to working with the firm's Dutch clients, he will also work closely with the firm's four-partner antitrust team in Brussels.

"We're always looking to grow the product offering to our clients and [having local antitrust capability] has been on the list for some time," the firm's Amsterdam managing partner Martijn Koopal told The Am Law Daily.

"The office has been expanding very quickly and we've tried to keep that rate as controlled as possible, but with the corporate practice continuing to grow we felt this was the right time [to launch an antitrust practice]," Koopal added.

Linklaters – whose Amsterdam outpost grew by 20% in 2010 – made three other hires for the office this March. The firm bolstered its Amsterdam corporate practice with the addition of partner Jan Willem de Boer in a rare lateral from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, launched a structured finance practice with counsel Kees Westermann from Clifford Chance, and brought in Baker & McKenzie counsel Martijn van Broeckhuijsen as head of employment.

"It's a good route to take people on as counsel, as it enables them to build and develop a practice without the immediate pressure of partnership," Koopal said, adding that further hires are planned across all practices.

Linklaters' Amsterdam office opened in 2005 and now includes 10 partners and 65 lawyers.